Dachau

  • Among the ranks of the SS were many evil men, some of whom seemed to take particular pleasure in their cruel deeds. Otto Moll, a notorious SS officer, was arrested by the Nazis on April 29, 1945, following the liberation of Dachau by the US Army. Before his tenure at Dachau, Moll held various positions…

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  • The title of this blog is the opening lines of the song “Red Sector A” by the Canadian Rock band “Rush.” It is a song from their 1984 album, Grace Under Pressure. It’s one of Rush’s most emotionally charged songs, heavily influenced by Geddy Lee’s personal family history. The song’s poignant lyrics, written by drummer…

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  • A Flower in Dachau

    In Dachau’s shadowed, solemn ground,A flower blooms where chains were bound.Its petals whisper tales of grief,Yet offer weary hearts relief. Amidst the echoes of despair,A splash of color bright and rare,This fragile bloom defies the night,A testament of silent might. The soil that cradles bitter tears,Now nurtures hope through passing years.Its roots entwine with memories…

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  • It is easy to say that all Germans in the Third Reich were bad , but that would be a great mistake to make. The majority weren’t bad, and many were victims like so many others. Yes, many had become complacent and were seduced by the promises made by Hitler, However, not everyone subscribed to…

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  • Dachau 1933-2023

    “On March 22, 1933, a few weeks after Adolf Hitler had been appointed Reich Chancellor, a concentration camp for political prisoners was set up in Dachau. This camp served as a model for all later concentration camps and as a “school of violence” for the SS men under whose command it stood. In the twelve…

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  • Abraham Judah Klausner was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 27, 1915, one of five children of Joseph Klausner, a Hungarian immigrant who owned a dry goods store, and Tillie Binstalk Klausner, an Austrian immigrant. He was raised in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Denver in 1938 and was ordained at Hebrew…

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  • The vow: David whispered in Dora’s ear. “No matter where they take us, we will meet back here in the Square, when this is over. Stay strong my Love, and know my thoughts and prayers are with you.” ​Dora replied with tears in her eyes. “I love you David and I will pray every night…

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  • The Return of a Hero

    Sometimes, because of my criticism of my fellow Dutchmen and women, I do forget that there were a great number of heroes too. Men and women who risked their lives to speak out against the Nazi regime and help others in need. The last few days, I have tried to get a bit of a…

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  • Dachau 1933-1945

    Hitler had a vision for an empire that would last a thousand years. It only lasted 12, but in those 12 years, he and his Nazi party did more damage than any empire before. On 30 January 1933, Von Hindenburg appointed Hitler chancellor. “It is like a dream. The Wilhelmstraße is ours,” Joseph Goebbels, the…

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  • I have written about Titus Brandsma before, but I thought the fact that I am going to visit Dachau in a few months time, I thought it would be a good time for another post on the Dutch Catholic Friar. He also has a connection to Ireland, where I live now. Titus Brandsma was born…

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